What is the Use of Accelerometer in Mobile Devices? (Updated)

The accelerometer is a sensor that enables users with an upgraded experience by adjusting an orientation of the app screen in the smartphone and tablet. The core objective of the mobile phone accelerometer is, the device adapts the orientation change as per the device position from horizontal to vertical and vice-versa. To provide a comfortable viewing experience to the users, it measures the position and orientation change of the screens.

For example; if you play a game, then you cannot have a good experience with a horizontal view. A landscape view provides users with more space to play a game on touch-enabled devices. While using a banking app, then portrait view is highly preferred by users compared to vertical as it is quite easy to add and read the information.

What is an Accelerometer?

The accelerometer is an electromechanical device that measures the force of acceleration caused by movement or by gravity or by vibration. These forces can be static like gravity force, dynamic senses movement or vibrations. Mathematically, acceleration is a measurement of the change in velocity or speed divided by time.

What Does An Accelerometer Do?

The accelerometer can be used for both academic and consumer purposes. For example: if your laptop drops suddenly while you are using it, an accelerometer can identify causes of the sudden free fall and turn off the hard drive right away to avoid any data damage.

A dynamic accelerometer measures the gravitational pull. If we consider the consumer context, then uses can get a better understanding of the surrounding of an object. It captures each motion of the item, whether it is moving uphill, falling over, tilting, flying horizontally or aligning downward. The smartphone changes the orientation of the display from portrait to landscape and vice-versa based on the tilt of the phone.

What is Accelerometer in Mobile Phone?

The accelerometer measures the linear acceleration of the device. When at rest position in whatever orientation, the figure represents the force of gravity active on the device at the same time it also measures the acceleration on X and Y axis which will be zero.

Would you like to deliver delightful viewing experience to your users? Let’s create amazing mobile apps using the in-built accelerometer capability of smartphone.

What is The Accelerometer Used for in Mobile Devices

Motion Input

The sensor is available in high-end mobile phones. Personal digital assistants and digital audio players control the user interface of the mobile app with the help of an accelerometer. It adjusts the orientation of content and presentation of the mobile app to make it user-friendly. Apple has integrated accelerometer in all of its iPhone, iPad and iPod devices since the 4th generation.

As accelerometer can track the movement, it is used as a pedometer to count steps and based on the step it enables users to with the detailed analysis of how many calories burnt, how many kilometers they walked, and more. Thus, the sensor widely used in health & fitness applications and sports apps.

Orientation Sensing

Most of the mobile devices use accelerometer these days to align the screen orientation depending on the direction of the device is held. With the inbuilt mobile phone accelerometer, users can get a better viewing experience while turning the page, playing gesture-based games, adjusting from landscape to portrait orientation and zoom-out & zoom-in on the images.

An accelerometer in the smartphone comprises at least a tilt sensor to manage the view of the images. Sometimes it is used with the purpose to correct shake while taking pictures, auto-rotation of images, play motion-sensitive mini-games.

Key Characteristics of Mobile Phone Accelerometer

It adjusts the screen orientation from landscape/horizontal to portrait/vertical and vice-versa to enable users with a better view of the app.

By changing the orientation, it makes photo viewing and web browsing better.

The accelerometer is highly used for racing games as it is motion-sensitive and interacts and controls the changing direction and steer of the racing vehicle.

By turning the mobile devices facing downward, users can mute the incoming call.

Credencys Leverages Inbuilt Accelerometer in Mobile App Development

Credencys, a premier mobile app development company, has successfully delivered 500+ mobile app development project to the startup to Fortune 500 companies to help them in achieving their business objective or addressing the organizational challenges. We have a team of skilled mobile app developers who have proven experience in delivering mobile solutions with the accelerometer.

We have helped ABB, the market leader of manufacturing Low Voltage (LV) Motors, to perform pre-emptive maintenance of the industrial motors using the smartphone. In the app, we harnessed the potential of accelerometer to check the speed of the LV motor and collect the data about motors’ health. Analyzing different parameters, the app suggests pre-emptive maintenance. It helped the client to reduce the motor on time by performing on-time repair or replacement.

Planning to build an app like ABB using the power of accelerometer? Let’s connect to create an amazing business solution together that adds value to your organization and customers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does an accelerometer output?

The accelerometer is an electromechanical device that measures the acceleration of an object. The sensor measures the rate of change of the velocity of an object in G-forces (g) and meters per second squared (m/s2). Mobile phone accelerometers are useful for orientation applications or for sensing vibrations in systems.

What does an accelerometer do?

The accelerometer is a sensor that measures the acceleration force that is caused by gravity or by vibration or by movement. These forces can be static like dynamic senses movement or vibration gravity force. Mathematically, acceleration is a measurement of the change in velocity or speed divided by time.

What devices use an accelerometer?

The accelerometers can be used to measure movement, gravity, and vibration of machines, cars, process control systems, buildings, and safety installations.

Can an accelerometer measure speed?

The inbuilt sensors of the mobile phone can’t provide the velocity. Mobile app developers have to use the accelerometer in the project or application to get velocity easily. It constantly monitors acceleration changes and calculates velocity instantaneously. The sensor will enable businesses with the value of acceleration at any given time.

About Author

Sagar Sharma

Sagar holds the position of Chief Technology Officer at Credencys and is responsible for all the technical operations, as well as leading the company’s revolutionary offerings.

Sagar has two main areas of focus - Technology and Processes. He has worked in leadership positions in various Fortune 50 companies and has been instrumental in driving success through digital transformation. He is also an enthusiastic Agile Coach.

Our Work

Our Product

Contact Us

Credencys believes in delivering efficient and simple software solutions that create a transformative impact for businesses seeking growth. With agile work practices and design driven approach, we are helping enterprises in expediting their digital transformation initiatives.